Fabrication of uranium dioxide ceramic pellets with controlled porosity from oxide microspheres

This study concerns the fabrication of uranium oxide pellets using the powder-free process called Calcined Resin Microsphere Pelletization (CRMP). Details are given about oxide microsphere synthesis and particularly about loading operation and heat treatments. The fabrication of ceramic pellets is also described and discussed. Results showed that this process allows the preparation of either dense or porous pellets by mixing U3O8 and UO2-like microspheres before pressing and sintering.